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Red River Overview:

Red River (1948) was a Western - Action Film directed by Howard Hawks and Arthur Rosson and produced by Howard Hawks and Charles K. Feldman.

The film was based on the serial novel The Chisholm Trail written by Borden Chase published in The Saturday Evening Post from Dec 7, 1946 - Jan 11, 1947.

SYNOPSIS

With Hawks's first Western he showed his mastery of the genre, producing an enduring classic that features one of Wayne's finest performances. Wayne splits from an ill-fated wagon train heading west, and steers toward Texas with his friend Brennan and a young Indian-attack survivor who grows up to be Clift. Wayne establishes the biggest spread in Texas, and runs it with the ruthlessness he showed in seizing the land. When he drives thousands of cattle north to Missouri, Wayne ignores the advice of his hands about the new Chisholm Trail, and runs the drive with an iron fist that leads to killings and mutiny. Clift finally establishes his own claim to the ranch's heritage by defying Wayne and heading to Kansas despite Wayne's threat to kill him. After a climactic brawl, Wayne acknowledges Clift's claim and the men are reconciled. A big, muscular drama with Clift's quiet steel making a nice contrast to Wayne's grit, and Brennan's comic turn adding a lighter note. The director's restored version contains eight minutes of previously excised footage.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Red River was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1990.

Academy Awards 1948 --- Ceremony Number 21 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Film EditingChristian NybyNominated
Best WritingBorden ChaseNominated
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Red River BlogHub Articles:

John Wayne and Montgomery Clift clash in Howard Hawks's "Red River"

By Stephen Reginald on Apr 24, 2023 From Classic Movie Man

John Wayne and Montgomery Clift clash in Howard Hawks's "Red River" Red River (1948) is an American western film directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Walter Brennan, and Joanne Dru. The movie is based on The Chisholm Trail, first published in The Saturday Evening ... Read full article

PRIDE MONTH: John Ireland and Montgomery Clift in Red River (1948)

By Carol Martinheira on Jun 10, 2021 From The Old Hollywood Garden

PRIDE MONTH: John Ireland and Montgomery Clift in Red River (1948) On June 10, 2021 By CarolIn Uncategorized June is Pride Month and, like always, celebrations abound here at the Garden. And while I’ve already talked about some of the big ones, like Morocco (... Read full article

Review: Red River (1948)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 4, 2016 From 4 Star Films

Any conversation on quintessential American Westerns certainly has to at least consider Red River. It has genre mainstay John Wayne in one of his most stirring performances, a moody precursor to The Searchers. It boasts the debut of the often criminally under-appreciated method actor Monty Clift. Mo... Read full article

Review: Red River (1948)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 4, 2016 From 4 Star Films

Any conversation on quintessential American Westerns certainly has to at least consider Red River. It has genre mainstay John Wayne in one of his most stirring performances, a moody precursor to The Searchers. It boasts the debut of the often criminally under-appreciated method actor Monty Clift. Mo... Read full article

Red River (1948)

By Beatrice on Mar 28, 2015 From Flickers in Time

Red River Directed by Howard Hawks and Arthur Rossen Written by Borden Chase and Charles Schnee from a story by Chase 1948/USA Charles K. Feldman Group/Monterey Productions Repeat viewing/Netflix rental #217 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die I find this to be two-thirds iconic cattle dri... Read full article

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Red River Quotes:

[Dunson plans to take Don Diego's land from him]
Fernandez: Others have thought as you, señor. Others have tried.
Thomas Dunson: And you've always been good enough to stop them?
Fernandez: Amigo, it is my work.
Thomas Dunson: Pretty unhealthy job.
Thomas Dunson: Who are you?
Cherry Valance: Some call me one thing, some another.
Thomas Dunson: What do they call you most?
Cherry Valance: By my name. Cherry Valance.
Thomas Dunson: We brought nothing into this world and it's certain we can carry nothing out.
Thomas Dunson: Cherry was right. You're soft, you should have let 'em kill me, 'cause I'm gonna kill you. I'll catch up with ya. I don't know when, but I'll catch up. Every time you turn around, expect to see me, 'cause one time you'll turn around and I'll be there. I'm gonna kill ya, Matt.
Mr. Melville: I'll buy the drinks when it's over.
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Red River Facts
After seeing John Wayne's performance in Red River, directed by rival director Howard Hawks, John Ford is quoted as saying, "I never knew the big son of a bitch could act."
Five dams were built to bring the San Pedro River in Arizona, where the crossings were shot, to flood stage.
"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 7, 1949 with John Wayne, Joanne Dru and Walter Brennan reprising their film roles.
The famous scene where Montgomery Clift and John Ireland compare their revolvers was allegedly a reference to Clift's homosexuality and the affair they were reportedly having in real life.
The only film that father, Harry Carey, and son, Harry Carey Jr. appeared together in.
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